Hi all,
York Dante Festival – Day 3
The final day of three excellent days on the Knavesmire.
1:50 – A Listed race for 2-year-old fillies over the minimum 5f.
Clive Cox won this race in 2013 his sole runner in the race in the past 10-years. He saddles last time out Nottingham winner Lady Fanditha. The daughter of Kodiac was well backed to make a winning racecourse debut 17-days ago. The going was good to soft that day but after the race her trainer told the Racing Post; “I was a bit concerned about the easy ground and although Lady Fanditha coped I know she’ll be a lot better on a decent surface”. This race was also named as a target. Open to further progress on a sound surface.
Lady Fanditha – 8/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill
2:25 – Trainer William Haggas was a shade unlucky with his filly Frankellina in the Musidora on Wednesday. He can gain some compensation with Magnetic Charm here. The daughter of Exceed And Excel won on her second start as a juvenile last August and ended last season when a 2 ½ length 4th in the 1m Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster. Returns to action here, stays a mile and likes a sound surface. Clerisy, trained by Sir Michael Stoute won a 7f Newmarket maiden 30-days ago. The daughter of Kingman, a half-sister to Expert Eye should get a mile and acts on a sound surface. Probably didn’t beat much at Newmarket and this a tougher assignment but she’s open to further progress and has a Group 1 entry at Royal Ascot.
Magnetic Charm – 11/2 @ William Hill
3:00 – Hard to look beyond Champion Stayer Stradivarius here, even on his seasonal return. However, if the eight stand their ground it may pay to have an each-way investment on previous eyecatcher Mildenberger. The four-year-old has shaped with promise on both this season’s starts and was runner-up to Roaring Lion in last years Dante. Looks like he will improve for the step up to 1m 6f and could be the one to chase home the favourite.
Mildenberger – 16/1 @ Bet365 & BetVictor – each way
3:35 – Despite 12 going to post for this Class 2 handicap. The race lacks a bit of depth.
Lucius Tiberius has run two decent races since joining Charlie Appleby but doesn’t look to have much in hand of the handicapper although did win a decent handicap at Leopardstown for his previous trainer off 1lb lower. No issues with the distance or quick ground.
Abe Lincoln has the blinkers back on today which looks a positive and Ryan Moore has been booked. Plenty of ability but is 0 wins from 5 runs on turf. Trainer had a winner at York on Thursday.
Mistiroc was a close-up third in the John Smith’s Cup over C&D back in 2017, off 7lb higher. He seemed to bounce back to form when a good second to Fujaira Prince at Doncaster 20-days ago. Silvestre De Sousa is an eye-catching jockey booking for the 8-year-old.
UAE Prince, trained by Roger Varian was a place behind Mistiroc in that York race. Hasn’t won since but has run some good races in defeat in better races since then. Can win this off his present mark and deserves to head the betting but at 2/1 looks plenty short enough to me.
William Haggas saddles Big Kitten. Both the 4-year-old two career wins have come on the tapeta at Newcastle. The gelding put in career best when runner-up at Chelmsford 15-days ago, off 3lb lower. On a competitive mark and has just had goes on turf both with soft going the going description. On pedigree shouldn’t have any problem with quick turf. Another with solid enough claims if as good on grass as he is on the synthetics.
Verdict: UAE Prince looks the one to beat but at the prices the steadily improving Big Kitten who is unexposed on turf and looks on a competitive mark if he’s as good on grass as the all-weather. Mistiroc looks one for the places if building on his recent Doncaster second and Lucius Tiberius is handicapped to go well on his best Irish form.
Lucius Tiberius – 9/1 @ William Hill & Bet365
Mistiroc – 12/1 @ Ladbrokes & Paddy Power – each way
4:35 – A 5f handicap for three-year-olds. A few lightly raced and unexposed horses here who could prove better than their marks.
Tenax a winner of a good ground Tipperary maiden last year when trained by Joseph O’Brien. The 3-year-old has been steadily progressive on his two starts since joining the Nigel Tinkler stable. Was beaten just half a length into third by the progressive Leodis Dream, who’s since won at Sandown & Chester, at Thirsk on his first start and then ran just as well when runner-up at Nottingham 17-days ago. Ryan Moore is an eye-catching jockey booking for the gelding who looks capable of going close.
Alfie Solomons, just the one win from nine starts as juvenile. But he was runner-up in a 14-runner nursery at Goodwood and occupied that place over C&D in valuable sales race at the Ebor Festival. Ran well to the final furlong on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket 30-days ago and should be better for that run. The return to York is interesting and he has each-way claims.
Tenax – 11/2 @ William Hill
Alfie Solomons – 14/1 @ William Hill – each way (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
5:05 – Another 3-year-old only handicap this time over 1m 4f.
Skymax won a Newmarket nursery over 1m 2f on his final start last season and shaped that day like he would improve for 1m 4f. Good chance even off top weight of 9-7 and 5lh higher in the weights. Sir Michael Stoute is 3 winners from 6 runners 50% + 16.5 with his runners here in 3-year-old only handicaps over 1m 2 ½ f to 1m 4f since 2015. He saddles last time out Leicester novice winner Laafy. The colt really enjoyed the fast ground and the step up to 1m 2f. Steps up to 1m 4f which he should stay and looks on a very workable mark of 83 for his handicap debut.
Verdict: Two potentially decent 3-year-old handicappers in Skymax & Laafy who are tough to split. Laafy has the benefit of a recent run and just edges it for me.
Laafy – 7/2 @ Bet365
Recent Eyecatchers Running
York
3:00 – Mildenberger
Newbury
4:55 – Guildhall – Didn’t build on the promise of his Doncaster reappearance at Salisbury but shaped like he needed further than 1m 2f. Today’s extra furlong is a positive and the trainers runners going better now.
Always check with an odds comparison service like Oddschecker to get the best prices available.
All selections win only unless indicated as each way.
Cheers
John